The new CRC will receive $40 million over seven years to 30 June 2022 to assist Australian manufacturers to transition to high-value internationally competitive manufacturing. The IMCRC, headquartered in Melbourne, will be established to develop knowledge-intensive competitive industries in areas of global growth, including additive manufacturing, lightweight robotics and medical devices, and will work with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre to assist Australian manufacturers to transition from traditional manufacturing to knowledge-intensive, internationally-competitive activities.

Associate Professor John Spoehr, Executive Director of WISeR, says the new IMCRC will look at new opportunities for knowledge intensive manufacturing in Australia, and South Australia.

“Manufacturing in Australia, and South Australia, is going through a period of great change,” says Associate Professor Spoehr. “With the closing of the car industry imminent and the current concerns surrounding the South Australian economy, this CRC will shine a light on the key issues and aid innovation.

“Changes in technology and international supply chains, together with new innovative business organisation, have opened up opportunities for competitive new manufacturing.

“These changes mean that being small no longer need be a disadvantage. New manufacturing uses new technologies and materials to supply low volume, high value products into global niches,” he says.